Hot mill catcher



Dec. 15, 1931. D. BucclcoNE 1,337,107

HOT MILL CATCHER Filed Npv 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 15, 1931. D. BucclcoNE HOT MI LL CATCHER Filed NOV 4, 1950 4 Sheets-Shea?l 2 www Dec. 15, 1931. DA BUCCICONE 1,837,107

HOT MILL CATGHER Filed Nov 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 54E/0 uc/cc/VE,

@I MMV D. BucclcoNE HOT Filed Nov 4, 1930 MILL CATCHER 4v Sheets-Sheet 4 vZ5 v 04E/0 50cc/GONEJ Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DARIO BUCCICONE, F GARY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY HOT MILL CATCHEB.

Application filed Novemberl 4, 1930. Serial No. 493.418.

This invention relates to hot mill catchers and more particularly to hot mill catchers for tin mills and the like and has for one of its objects the provision of a catcher of this type that will be automatic and speedy in operation.

Another object is to provide a catcher composed of few parts and which, due to its simpliiied construction, will cover less floor space and also will be less liable to get out of order than the more complicated catchers of the prior art.

A further object is to provide a catcher having the novel construction, arrangement 5 and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the catcher partly in section.

Figure 2 isa plan thereof.

Fi ure 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the lineIII-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail through the gaging shaft and housing.

Figure 5 is a detail plan of the drive mechanism for the catcher.

Figure 6 is a detail of the sheet operated control mechanism.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram of the control and operating circuits.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letters A and B designate the upper and lower rolls of a hot mill.

The catcher comprises a wheeled4 frame C having an upper side member 11 and forward extension housing plates 2 and 2l adapted to extend in between the mill housings.

A pair of pinch-rolls 3 and 4 are journaled in suitable bearings 13 and 14 in the housing plates 2 and 2, respectively, and are adapted to receive the sheets or packs as they pass through the rolls A and B.

A shaft 16 is journaled in the housing plates 2 and 2 below the bite of the pinchrollers 3 and 4 and has lever-arms 15 keyed thereon which projects rearwardly into the path of the sheets passing between the pinchrollers. A second lever 17 is keyed to the shaft 16 and projects downwardly and is connected to one end of a connecting-rod 18. The other end of the rod 18 is connected to l. lever-arm 19 of a cam member 19 on a shaft 54.

A second connecting-rod 2O has one end connected to the lever-arm 19 and its other end connected to the rod 21 adapted to operate a contactor 22 which energizes a solenoid 23.

A shaft 44 is journaled in the housin plates 2 and 2' and a sprocket 25 is keye thereon; a chain 24 is anchored to the s rocket 25 and is connected to the solenoi 23 so that operation of the solenoid will pull the chain 24 and rotate the sprocket 25 and shaft 44. A pair of conveyer roller supporting arms 9 are keyed at their lower ends to the shaft 44 and are normally held in their upper position by a telescoping spring pressed rod 10. A conveyer roller-shaft 43 is journaled Vin the upper ends of the arms 9 and carries conveyer rollers 8.

A tilting conveyer table E composed of side members 100 and transverse members 101 is provided with a trunnion-shaft 102 intermediate its ends which is journaled in bearings 103 secured to the frame side members 11.

As the packs or sheets pass through the Ypinch-rollers 3 and 4 they depress the leverarms 15. Lever-arms 15 in turn rotate the shaft 16 and thereby rocks the lever 17 which in turn pulls the connecting-rod 18, leverarm 19, connecting-rod 20 and rod 21 to operate the contactor 22".

Operation of the contactor 22 energizes the solenoid 23 which operates to pull the chain 24 over the sprocket 25 in a clockwise direction so as to rotate the shaft 44 in a clockwise directing to swing the arms 9v and conveyer rollers 8 downwardly between the pinch-rollers 3 and 4 and the forward end-of the table E, out of the path of the incoming sheet or pack and so as to form a bridge over which the sheet may ride to the table E.

As soon as the sheets pass 'over the leverarm 15 the spring pressed rod 10 will return the arms 9 and rollers 8 to their elevated position, thus returning the lever 15 and associated parts to normal position and deenergizing the solenoid 23. The return of the arms and rollers elevates the rear ends of the sheets so as to assist them in their return over the to roll of the mill.

Ihe table E is provided with a plurality of conveyer rollers 104 of the disk type which are journaled in bearings 105 and provided with sprockets 106 connected with chains 107 so that all of said rollers will run in unison. The next to theendmost conveyer rollers of the table are provided with sprockets 37 and 38.

A reversing motor 28 is mounted on the frame C of the catcher and has its armature shaft rovided with a pinion 27 which is meshed) with a gear 29 on a jack-shaft 32 mounted on the fra-me C. The ear 29 is meshed with a gear 30 on a jack-shaft 31 journaled in bearings 33 on the frame C. Sprockets 34 and 35 are mounted on the jackshaft 32.

lVhen the motor 28 is running in a clockwise direction it operates the jack-shaft 32 in a counter-clockwise direction and the jackshaft 31 in a clockwise direction. The sprocket 34 operates the rollers 104 of the table E through a chain 36 trained over the sprocket 34 and sprockets 37 and 38. When the motor is operating in a clockwise direction it will operate the table rollers 104 counter-clockwise or toward the mill and, due to the triangular drive provided by the sprockets 34, 37, 38 and chain 36 the table will be pulled down at its forward end so as to be inclined toward the mill. Reversal of the `motor 28 will reverse the direction of rotation of the conveyer rollers and also the inclination of the table E.

The conveyer rollers 8 carried by the swinging arms 9 are adapted to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by a sprocket 35 on the shaft 32 which is connected by a chain 39 to the sprocket portion 40 of a double sprock` et which is loosely mounted on the shaft 44 and has a second sprocket portion 41 integral therewith. The sprocket portion 41 is connected by a chain 45 to a sprocket 42 on the shaft 43 on which rollers 8 are mounted.

The jack-shaft 31, when operating in a clockwise direction operates the pinch-roller 4 through a sprocket 46, chain 47 and a ratchet sprocket 48 on the shaft 49 of the roller 4. The ratchet sprocket 48 rotates free when the motor is reversed so that the pinch-rollers remain stationary. v

The shaft 50 of the pinch-roller 3 is provided with sprockets 52. A shaft 51 is journaled in the housing plates 2 and 2a above the shaft 50 of the pinch-roller 3 and is provided with sprockets 53. Elevating chains `6 are trained over the sprockets 52 and 53 and are provided with lifting dogs 7.

The roller 3 is rotated by frictional engagement with the roller 4 and with the sheets. As the rear end of the sheets enter the bite of the pinch-rollers 3 and 4 a pair 0f the dogs 7 will engage under the sheets and as the sheets pass from between the pinch rollers the dogs will elevate or lift the rear ends of the sheets upwardly for return over the top roll A of the mill.

The return of the sheets is greatly assisted by the rollers 8 carried by the arms 9 since simultaneously with the passage of the sheets from between the pinch-rollers and elevation of their rear ends by the chains 6 and dogs 7 the arms 9 and the rollers 8 will be returned to elevated position by the spring pressed rod 10, thereby elevating the forward portion of the sheets. The rollers 8 also serve to assist in moving the sheets over the top roll of the mill.

A gaging mechanism is provided for gaging the length of the sheets and when the sheets reach their predetermined length this mechanism is adapted to automatically reverse the motor 28 and feed the sheets ff the rear end of the catcher.

The gaging mechanism comprises a shaft 54 journaled and slidably mounted in a stationary housing 55. A sprocket 65 is secured on one end of the shaft and is connected to a sprocket 64 on a roller l2 loosely mounted on the pinch-roller shaft 49 by a chain 63. The cam member 19a is mounted on the shaft 54 and has its cam face bearing against the end of the housing 55. When the member 19a is rotated its cam face will force its plain face against the hub of the sprocket 65, thus sliding the shaft 54 longitudinally in the housing 55. A friction brake-disk 56 is mounted on the shaft 54 and is adapted to be normally forced into engagement with a brake-drum 57 by a spring 57a. A pinion 60 is formed integral with a sleeve 59 journaled on the housing 55 and having a serrated clutch face 59a on its outer end.

A serrated clutch disk 58 is secured to the end of the shaft 54 and is adapted to be forced into driving engagement with the clutch face .592l when the shaft 54 is shifted by the cam member 19". The pinion 60 is in mesh with a rack 61 mounted for vertical sliding movement in a guideway 62. A contact and indicator operating bar 62a is slidably mounted in the guideway 62 above the rack 61 and is adapted to be moved vertically by the rack to operate the reversing limit switch 67 and an indica-ting mechanism (not shown). The limit switch 67, indicating mechanism and rack arrangement is the same as that shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 490,797, filed Oct. 23, 1930, and will not be further described herein.

As the sheets enter the bite of the pinchrollers 3 and 4 the levers 15 are depressed thereby, shifting or rotating the cam 19a through the shaft 16, lever 17, connecting-rod 18 and lever 19. Shifting of the cam 19a will cause the shaft 54 to shift or move longitudinally so as to move the brake-disk 56 away from the brake-drum 57, disenga ing or releasing the brake and freeing the s aft 54 for rotation.

The longitudinal movement of the shaft "54 also will engage the clutch disks 58 and v19a returns to inactive position. The return of the cam 19 to inactive position frees the shaft 54 to the action of spring 57'* which moves the shaft to the right, thereby engaging the brake vand disengaging the clutch members 58 and 59 and thus freeing theA pinion 60 and permitting the rack 61 to return to its lowermost osition by gravity.

Referring now to Flgure 7, a typicall wiring diagram is shown illustrating the various controls used for automatically operating and reversing the catcher.

Poweris suppliedbylines 69 and 7 0 through a main switch 71. The motor is started by closing the main switch 71 which completes the circuit from line 69 through main switch 71, thence through overload 72, out through line 7 3, thence throu h line 74 through forward contactor coil 5, thence through line 76, through auxiliary contacts 77 of reversing contactor 94, thence throu hline 78, through line 79 to other side o main switch 71. This energizes the forward contactor coil and said coil and it closes contact 80 which completes the circuit from main switchv 71 through overload 7 2, thence through line 73 through line 84, thence through resistance through line 86, through contact 80, thence through line 87, through armature ofmotor 28, thence through line 88, through normally closed contact 83 of reversing contactor 94, thence through line 89, through resistance 90, thence through series ield 91 .of motor 28, through line 79 to other side of the main switch 71. This starts the motor 28 and the mechanical catcher is ready or service.

The packs of sheets are now rolled as heretofore described and returned over the mill and when they reach the desired gauge the limit switch 67 is closed as explained. Closing limit switch 67 completes the circuit from the main switch 71 through the overload 72, thence through line 7 3, through line 115, through reversing contactor coil 94, thence through line 116, through limit switch 67, thence through controller 110 which is now set bridging contacts 117 and 112, thence through line 114, through line 79 to other side 'of main switch 71. At the same time the reversing cont-actor 94 was energized the reverse timing relay 95 was also energized by completing the circuit from main switch l71 through overload 7 2, through line 73, through line 118, thence through reverse timing relay coil 95, through limit switch 67 through controller 110 through line 114, thence through line 79 to other side of main switch 71.

This reverse timing relay 95 is to limit the time the table is reversed for discharging the packs or sheets. This is accomplished by the reverse timing relay 95 holding the circuit closed to the reverse contactor 94 a given time. When the limit switch 67 closed and energized reverse contactor 94 and reverse timing relay 95 as explained above, reverse contactor 94 opened normally closed contact 83, thereby stopping the motor 28 and closed contact 82 which completes the circuit to motor 28 armature in a reverse direction from main switch 71 through overload 7 2, thence through'line 7 3, through line 84, throu h resistance 85, through contact 82 throng line 88, thence through motor 28 through line 87, through normally closed Contact 81 (which closed when contactor 94 was energized and broke the auxiliary contact 77 which completed the circuit to contactor 75), thence through resistance through series field 91 of' motor 28, thence through line 79 to the other side of-the main switch 71. This reverses the motor 28 and the pack of sheets is discharged rearwardly oi of the catcher.

Limit switch 67 was again opened as the pack was being discharged but reverse contactor 94 is now held in by auxiliary contact 96 which closed when reverse contactor 94 was energized. Reverse timing relay 95 now has its circuit complete through contact 96 and 98'. After sufficient time for the pack or sheet to be discharged the dash pot on the reverse timing relay allowsv it to open contact 98 which deenergizes reverse contactor 94 and also reverse timing relay 95. This allows reverse contactor 94 to return to its. original position opening Contact 82, thereby stopping motor 28. When' reverse contactor 94 returned to its original position it opened auxiliary contact 96 and closed auxiliary contact 77 which again energizedforward contactor 75 which in turn closed contact 80, starting motor 28 in the forward direction as previously explained and the mechanical catcher is now ready for the next pack or sheet. i

As the packs or sheets pass through the pinch-rolls, limit switch 22 is closed. This completes the circuit from main switch 71 through overload 7 2, thence through line 73 through tilting arm contactor 99, thence through limit switch 2,2 through line 79, to

other side of main switch 71. This energizes tilting arm contactor 99 and it closes con-#125 tact 210 which completes the circuit from the main switch 71, through overload 7 2, thence through line 7 3, through contact 210 through tilting arm solenoid 23, back through line 79 to the other side of the main switch 71.

This energizes the tilt-ing arm solenoid 23 and it pulls the tilting arm out of the path of the sheet as explained.

After the packs or sheets get through pinchrolls, the limit switch 22 is again opened and the contactor 99 is deenergized the circuit is opened to the tilting arm solenoid 23 and a spring rod 10 returns the tilting arm to its original position.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hot mill catcher comprising a frame, a. conveying table on said frame, a pair of pinch-rollers spaced forwardly from said table and adapted to receive sheets from the mill and feed said sheets rearwardly onto said table, a conveying roller support to the rear of said pinch-rollers and adapted to swing about a fixed axis in an arcuate path between said pinch-rollers and said table, a conveying roller journaled adjacent the free end of said support, means operable by the sheets passing between said pinch-rollers for causing said support to swing downwardly out of the path of said sheets, and means for returning said support and roller to normal elevated position as the sheets pass out of the bite of said pinch-rollersso as to assist in elevating and returning said sheets over the top roll of the mill. v

2. A hot mill catcher comprising a frame, a conveying table on said frame, a pair of pinch-rollers spaced forwardly from said table and adapted to receive sheets from the mill and feed said sheets rearwardly onto said table, a conveying roller support to the rear of said pinch-rollers and adapted to swing about a fixed axis in an arcuate path between said pinch-rollers and said table, a conveying roller journaled adjacent the free end of said support, electrically operated means for causing said support to swing downwardly out of the path of said sheets, means operable by the sheets passing between said pinch-rollers for energizing said electrically operated means, and spring means for returning said support and roller to normal elevated position as the sheets pass out of the bite of said pinch-rollers so as to assist in elevating and returning said sheets over the top roll of the mill.

3. A hot mill catcher comprising a frame, a conveying table pivotally mounted on said frame for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, a pair'of pinch-rollers on said frame and spaced forwardly from said table adapted to receive sheets from the mill and feed said sheets rearwardly onto said table, a plurality of conveying rollers journaled on said table, meansfor driving said conveying rollers in reverse direction, means operable by said driving means for automatically tilting said table in the direction of the drive of sald conveying rollers, a conveying roller support' in advance of said pinch-rollers and pivotally mounted at its lower end to swin about a fixed axis upwardly and downwardly in an arcuate path between said pinch-rollers and said conveying table, a conveying roller journaled adjacent the free end of said support, means operable by the sheets passing between said pinch-rollers for causing said support to swing downwardly out of the path of the sheets, means for returning said support and roller to normal elevated position as the sheets pass out of the bite of said pinchrollers so as to assist in elevating and returning said sheets overthe to-p roll of the mill and means for driving said conveying roller on said support in the same direction as said conveying rollers on said table.

4. hot mill catcher comprising a frame, a conveying table pivotally mounted on said frame for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, a pair of pinch-rollers on said frame and spaced forwardly from said table adapted to receive sheets from the mill and feed said sheets rearwardly onto said table, a plurality of conveying rollers'journaled on said table, means for driving said conveying rollers in reverse directions, means operable by said driving means for automatically tilting said table in the direction of the drive of said conveying rollers, a conveying roller support in advance of said pinch-rollers and pivotally mounted at its lower end to swing about a'fixed axis upwardly and downwardly in an arcuate path between said pinch-rollers and said conveying table, a conveying roller journaled adjacent the free end of said support, an automatic gaging means including a reversing limit switch for reversing said means for driving said conveying rollers, means operable by the sheets passing between said pinch-rollers for causing operation of said gaging device and for causing said support to swing downwardly out of the path of the sheets, means for returning said support and roller to normal elevated position as the sheets pass out 0f the bite of said pinchrollers so as to assist in elevating and returning said sheets over the top roll of the mill, and means for driving said conveying roller on said support in the same direction as said conveying rollers on said table.

5. A hot mill catcher comprising 'a frame, a conveying table on said frame, a pair of pinch-rollers spaced forwardly 'from said table and adapted to receive sheets from the mill and feed said sheets rearwardly onto said table, elevating means adapted to engage the rear end of the sheets as they pass through said pinch-rollers and lift said sheets upwardly to assist in the return of said sheets over the top mill roll, a conveying roller support t0 the rear of said pinch-rollers and adapted to swing about a fixed axis in an arcuate path between said pinch-rollers and said table, a conveying roller journaled adjacent the free end of said support, means operable by the sheets passing between said pinchrollers for causing said support to swing downwardly out of the path of said sheets and'means for returning said support and roller to normal elevated position as the sheets pass out of the bite of said pinch-rollers so as to assist in elevating and returning said sheets over the top roll of the` mill.

6. A hot mill catcher comprising a frame a conveying table on said frame, a pair of pinch-rollers spaced forwardly from said table and adapted to receive sheets from the mill and feed said sheets rearwardly onto said table, sprockets on the upper one of said pinch-roller shafts at each side of the top pinch-roller, a conveying roller shaft journaled in said frame a material distance above the upper pinch-roller, eonveyer rollers on said shaft, sprockets on said shaft, elevating chains trained over said sprockets on the upper pinch-roller shaft and on said conveying roller shaft, sheet engaging dogs on said chains adapted to engage the rear ends of the sheets as they emerge from between said pinch-rollers and lift said sheets upwardly onto said conveying rollers on said conveying shaft for return over the top roll of the mill,

a conveying roller support to the rear of said i pinch-rollers and adapted to swing about'a iixed axis in an arcuate path between said and said table, a conveying pinch-rollers y roller journaled adjacent the free end of saidl support, means operable by the sheets passing between said pinch-rollers for causing said support to swing downwardly out of the path of said sheets, and means for returning said support and roller to normal elevated position as the sheets pass out of the bite of said pinch-rollers so as to assist in elevating and returning said sheets over the top roll of the mill. t

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

DARIO BUCCICONE. 

